WAEC Literature in English 2018 Theory — Question 11

Model answer

The proceedings at Wasa High Court are of great significance in the play. They indicate that justice must prevail in all situations and sinners must not go unpunished. After the death of Aloho, Ogeyi goes to the police station to report Aloho's death and to report the Minister of External Relation's illicit relationship with Aloho and how such has been instrumental in Aloho's tragedy and eventual death. Ogeyi also reports how Aloho has been used by the Minister to push cocaine and to satisfy his sexual urge and how she has ended up dying during childbirth after several failed attempts to abort the pregnancy. Ogeyi also reports Chief's connection with other law enforcement agents and his direct accessories (Madam Hoha and Ochuole). Ogeyi reports: 'In fact, these two are the real people behind Chief's atrocities.' Ogeyi's reports help the police in their investigations. They serve as evidence and reasons to press charges against the Chief at the law court. The Chief has been involved in several illicit, corrupt and illegal activities. One is the embezzlement of 1.2 billion naira. The Chief has also been involved in similar acts such as pen robbery, authorizing the Administration Officer (Ochuole) to apply, sign and collect about six million naira for the purchase of capital items, hiding large quantities of substances suspected to be cocaine in his house and working in concord with law enforcement agents such as the Commissioner of Police, Justice Odili, and using Madam Hoha's Akpara Hotel for several illicit activities. In the law court, after the Chief's arrest, Ogeyi attests to the truth. Ogeyi attests to the fact that the Chief is responsible for Aloho's death, the deception of the same and how she was falsely employed as the Protocol Officer and how the Chief has been the cause of her predicaments: 'The relationship turned sour when she discovered that she was being used as cocaine pusher under the cover of Protocol Officer.' Inspector Inaku (John Odey Inaku) also testifies to this. Efforts to defend these accusations both by the Chief and the defence counsel prove abortive. The Chief is found guilty of all the crimes levelled against him. The judge decides against the Chief that he shall no longer be addressed as 'Chief' because of the level of corruption attested against him. The judge decides that he shall not be addressed as chief because of the level of corruption attested by him. The Chief is convicted of several other crimes such as fraud, embezzlement, drug dealing, abuse and corruption, and betrayal of trust, and more crimes which the Chief and his defence counsel cannot successfully defend, despite their pleas for mercy. The proceedings of the court convict the Chief of all the crimes levelled against him. Chief Haladu Ade-Amaka, having been found guilty, is sentenced to twenty-five years of imprisonment. His accomplices, Justice Odili and the Commissioner of Police, are sentenced to twenty years of imprisonment each. The judge sees the two as 'a big disgrace to our noble profession,' as greed and avarice have blinded them against the ethical demands of their profession. Ayo, the clerk, is also sentenced to five years of imprisonment for failing to declare the ethical demands of his profession by keeping quiet about the illicit activities he was aware of.